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A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

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Illinois students, STL Jewish community forge ties, understanding through Holocaust drama

Illinois students, STL Jewish community forge ties, understanding through Holocaust drama

BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEFPublished February 4, 2025

Ashley Melton knew choosing the play was a bold decision. After years of directing comedies at Edwardsville High School (EHS), she felt it was time to offer her drama club a different experience, one that would challenge them with a true dramatic work.  What...

Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks before prominent Jewish donors at an event titled "Fighting Anti-Semitism in America" at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, Washington D.C., Sept. 19, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Trump administration asks Congress to OK $1 billion arms sale to Israel

JNS Staff, JNSPublished February 4, 2025

The Trump White House has asked congressional leaders to approve about $1 billion in weapons sales to Israel, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing U.S. officials. The sales would include more than $700 million in 1,000-pound bombs (4,700...

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump participate in the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., Sept. 15, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Netanyahu heads to Washington for what Trump says are ‘very big meetings’

Philissa Cramer, JTAPublished February 3, 2025

As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set off for Washington, D.C., on Sunday, he told Israelis that he was looking forward to reconnecting with an old friend. “I’m leaving for a very important meeting with President Trump in Washington,”...

Adeline Mass, on her store's iconic pink couch.

Remembering the pink couch and how ‘Jordan’s Apparel’ dressed a generation in style!

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished February 2, 2025

In mid-December, I was browsing through our newspaper archives when I stumbled upon a 1965 advertisement for a store called Jordan’s. As someone named Jordan, it immediately caught my eye. I had...

1967 photo leads to a nostalgic journey through St. Louis’ Jewish bakery history

1967 photo leads to a nostalgic journey through St. Louis’ Jewish bakery history

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished February 2, 2025

Last month, during Bagel Week, I published a story reminiscing about the closing of the iconic Bagel Factory. Soon after, Sharon Breiner Waltrip saw the article on Facebook and commented: “I have a photo of my dad, Marvin Breiner, from the St. Louis...

Joel Gotkin, Caroline Goldenberg and Rabbi Brad Horwitz.

Jewish Federation of St. Louis announces 2025 Evening of Impact award recipients

Published February 1, 2025

The Jewish Federation of St. Louis has unveiled its 2025 award winners, who will be celebrated during the Evening of Impact on Feb. 19 at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. Honorees include Caroline Goldenberg and Joel Gotkin, recipients...

Steve Witkoff, businessman and developer, speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum.

Witkoff meets with top politicos in Jerusalem

JNS StaffPublished January 30, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, met in Jerusalem on Thursday with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Shas Party leader Aryeh Deri to discuss the implementation of the...

Judge Rachel Freier

Staenberg Speaker Series continues with history-making Judge Rachel Freier

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished January 30, 2025

The 2025 Staenberg Speaker Series continues on Feb. 16 with an evening featuring Judge Rachel Freier, a trailblazing figure in law and Jewish life. Known for her historic achievement as the first Hasidic woman elected to public office in the United States,...

On the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, USC students walk out of class and march around their campus in support of Palestinians and the divest movement on Monday, October 7, 2024 in Los Angeles. President Trump's executive order on Jan. 29, 2025, suggests that foreign-born protesters who express support for terrorism be deported. (Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Jewish groups offer mixed reactions to Trump’s executive order on antisemitism

Andrew Lapin, JTAPublished January 30, 2025

Jewish groups are offering mixed reactions to President Donald Trump’s latest executive order on antisemitism that suggests that foreign-born anti-Israel student protesters could be deported. Some say the order is taking advantage of Jewish fear...

Mike Bosner

Corn, comedy and country music: How a hometown kid is bringing ‘Shucked’ home to ‘The Fabulous Fox’

Jordan Palmer, Chief Digital Content OfficerPublished January 30, 2025

When producer Mike Bosner brings "Shucked," one of Broadway’s most surprising hits, to The Fabulous Fox from Feb. 11–23, it will be more than just another stop on the musical’s national tour. For Bosner, it’s a homecoming—and a chance to showcase...

Israel orders terrorists’ release frozen after ‘horrific’ mobbing of released hostages

JNS StaffPublished January 30, 2025

Jerusalem has frozen the release of terrorists whose sentences were to be commuted under the ceasefire deal with Hamas, after “horrifying scenes” were witnessed during the release of Israeli hostages Arbel Yehud and Gadi Mozes on Thursday, according...

Arbel Yehud, an Israeli hostage held in Gaza, is made to traverse a dense crowd of terrorists before being handed over to the Red Cross outside Yahya Sinwar's house in Khan Yunis, Gaza, Jan. 30, 2025. (Hani Alshaer/Anadolu via Getty Images)

8 hostages, including 5 Thai nationals, return to Israel following chaotic scenes in Gaza

Philissa Cramer, JTAPublished January 30, 2025

Eight hostages returned to Israel in two separate releases on Thursday, following scenes of chaos and intimidation as the terror groups that abducted them handed them over to the Red Cross. Agam Berger, the last woman soldier remaining in Gaza, was...

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